Rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine

ABSTRACT

A rivet head arrangement for a wobble or tumble riveting machine comprising a plurality of identical wobble rivet tools, the axes of which are in substantial parallelism with one another. A drive member is engaged by the head end of the wobble rivet tools, each such head end being remote from the effective or working end of these wobble rivet tools. The drive member is capable of transmitting to the wobble rivet tools a force directed towards their working ends. Further, a drive mechanism imparts to this drive member a translatory circular movement such that all of the wobble rivet tools carry out wobble movements, the centers of which are situated at their working ends. Also there is provided a support member upon which the wobble rivet tools at least are then supported by means of an intermediate portion when such wobble rivet tools do not bear upon the rivet ends to be deformed or formed.

United States Patent Berndt [451 July 1 l, 1972 s41 RIVET HEAD ARRANGEMENT FOR A 3,523,442 8/1970 Marciniak ..72/406 WOBBLE RIVETING MACHINE Pri 'Ex Charles W. Lanham 72 Inventor: Claus Berndt, Werkhofstrasse a, Biberist, I-'52 Gm ncmby Sw'uefland Anomey-Wemer W. Kleeman [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 77,335 [57] mm A rivet head arrangement for a wobble or tumble riveting machine compn'sing a plurality of identical wobble rivet tools, [30] Foreign Application Pdomy Dam the axes of which are in substantial parallelism with one Oct. 24, I969 Switzerland ..l59l 8/69 another. A drive member is engaged by the head end of the wobble rivet tools, each such head end being remote from the [52] US. Cl ..72/406, 72/476 effective or working and of these wobble rivet tcmls The drive [51 lilt- Cl. r member capable of u-ansn'u'tfing to [he wobble rivgt tools a [58] Held of Search ..72/406, 476, 67, 77, H2, 119, force directed towards their working ends Further a drive 72/126; 29/5 I 523 mechanism imparts to this drive member a translatory circular movement such that all of the wobble rivet tools carry out [56] References cued wobble movements, the centers of which are situated at their UNITED STATE P TE working ends. Also there is provided a support member upon S A NTS which the wobble rivet tools at least are then supported by 2,|85,939 1/]940 Deshon ..72/l26 means of an intermedjatg portion when such wobble rivet Bregen tools do not bear u on the rivet ends be deformed o 2,748,736 6/l956 Grzenkowski ..72/l26 f 3,440,850 4/l969 Friedrich v v ..72/l l2 3,494,l6l 2/l970 Silichev ..72/406 8 Chins, 5 Drawing guns RIVET HEAD ARRANGEMENT FOR A WOBBLE RIVETING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine.

In heretofore known prior art wobble or tumble riveting machines the tool is secured to a rotating drive shaft, and specifically in such a manner that the tool encloses an angle with the axis of rotation of such shaft and the effective or working end of the tool is situated at the axis of rotation. Hence, the tool carries out a wobbling or tumbling movement, as a result of which the operable location of the working end of the tool acting upon the workpiece, for instance a hollow rivet, continuously wanders along a circle. In this manner the workpiece is continuously defonned or set due to the exerted pressure without crack or fissure formation. Such operation of this type equipment provides a great advantage of this riveting technique in contrast to those prior art techniques working with impact tools. Existing manufacturing procedures oftentimes require a number of rivets to be simultaneously worked or deformed, this being especially the case during series or mass production of articles, such as switches for instance. Therefore it is understandable that it would be advantageous if the heads of such rivets could be simultaneously worked with the aid of a corresponding number of simultaneously acting wobble rivet tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a need exists in the art for fulfilling this requirement. Hence, a primary objective of this invention is to provide an improved rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine which effectively and reliably fulfills this need.

Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a wobble rivet machine-rivet head arrangement rendering possible simultaneous working of a number of rivets.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved construction of wobble riveting machine lending itself to mass production of articles at high output capacity, especially by virtue of its ability to simultaneously work a number of rivets.

A further important object of this invention relates to an improved rivet head for a wobble riveting machine which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, extremely reliable in operation, not readily subject to breakdown, and affords high production efficiency.

Now, in order to implement these and further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the inventive rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine is manifested by the features that there are provided a plurality of similar wobble rivet tools, the respective axis of which are in substantial parallelism to one another. A drive member is provided with which engage the head ends of the wobble rivet tools located remote from their working or effective ends. This drive member is capable of transmitting a force to the wobble rivet tools which is directed towards their respective working ends. Additionally, a drive mechanism cooperates with this drive member to impart to such drive member a translatory circular movement in such a manner that all of the wobble rivet tools carry out wobble movements, the centers of which are located at their working ends. A supporting member is provided at which the wobble rivet tools are at least then supported through the agency of an intermediate portion or component of such tools when these wobble rivet tools do not bear against the rivet ends which are to be deformed or worked.

One embodiment of the inventive rivet head is furthermore characterized by the features that there is provided a detachahlc connection of the drive-and-force-transrnitting member as well as the support member at their associated supporting or carrier elements for the purpose of rendering possible their exchange and replacement for different suitable corresponding members to provide a different arrangement of the wobble rivet tools and their working ends respectively. Such a construction renders possible a rapid alteration or resetting of the rivet head arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a schematic and rather simplified cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of inventive rivet head arrangement for a wobble rivet machine and wherein only one rivet tool has been depicted;

FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of inventive rivet head arrangement, similar to the showing of FIG. I, and depicting a very simplified schematic cross-sectional view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the invention which operates according to the working principle depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention which operates in accordance with the working principles depicted for the arrangement of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus structure of FIG. 4, taken substantially along the line V-V thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, in the arrangement of FIG. 1 reference numerals I and 2 designate sheet metal members which it is to be presupposed are to be connected together by means of hollow rivets indicated by reference numeral 3. Performance of the riveting operation is undertaken with the aid of wobble rivet tools, wherein for purposes of simplifying the illustration of FIG. 1 only one such wobble rivet tool 4 has been shown. The head end portion 4b of such wobble rivet tool 4, remote from the working or effective end 40 is spherically rounded and engages with a tapered or conical recess 5 of a drive member 6. Although not specifically shown in FIG. I, there is provided drive mechanism for imparting to drive member 6 a translatory circular movement with the radius R All of the wobble riveting tools 4 are similar or identical to one another and the respective axis thereof are parallel to one another. They piercingly extend through bores 7 of a stationary support element or member 8. All of these bores 7 are selected to be sufficiently large in size so that they do not hinder the wobble motion of the tools 47 Furthermore, tools 4 possess an intermediate portion 40 having a curved or domed undersurface, as shown. This intermediate portion 4c at least then bears upon the support element 8 when the corresponding tool 4 does not or no longer bears upon the associated workpiece or hoilow rivet 3. During the working or riveting operation the drive member 6 exerts a force upon the head portion 4b of each of the tools 4 which is axially directed towards the working or operable end 40 of the corresponding tools. The tools 4 then operate in like manner as the conventional wobble rivet tools. Even with this simplified embodiment it is already possible to detachably secure the drive member 6 to an associated carrier or support element and in similar manner also the support member I!v This allows for a simple exchange of the members 6 and 8 for corresponding members in which the recesses 5 and the bores 7 are arranged according to a different pattern corresponding to the pattern which the hollow rivets 3 form in plan view.

FIG. 2 illustrates in similar fashion to the showing of FIG. I the arrangement of the tools 9, only one of which has been depicted in this figure, with respect to the drive element or member 10 and the support member 11. In principle, this ar rangement is similar to the arrangement of FIG. 1. One difference, however, resides in the fact that the intennediate portion 90 of each tool 9 is mounted in a ball-and-socket-like fashion in an appropriately constructed recess of the support member 11, and furthermore, an additional difference can be found in that with this arrangement the support element 11 is likewise coupled with a drive mechanism which imparts to such support element II a translatory circular movement with the radius r. The radii R and r of the circular movements or paths are approximately in the same relationship to one another as the total length of the tools to the length measured between the center 12 of the universal joint or ball-and-socket like mounting at the support element ll and the operable or working end 90. It should be readily recognized that also in this instance the tools 9 carry out a wobble movement about the center of their operable or working ends 90. Furthermore, it should be understood that also in this case measures are undertaken which enable an easy exchange of the elements 10 and I1 for the purposes heretofore described.

The embodiments of inventive apparatus depicted schematically in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 and respectively, and showing further details of the structural manifestations, have been designed and constructed in accordance with the structural and functional principles heretofore described in respect of FIG. 2. Accordingly, there have been generally used in these FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive the same reference characters for like or analogous elements. Hence, the tools are again denoted by reference numeral 9, the drive member or element by reference numeral 10, and the support element by reference numeral ll. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the drive member or element I0 is detachably secured to a supporting member or carrier 15 through the agency of positioning pin members 13 and screws 14 or equivalent fastening expedients. Moreover, the support element I] is likewise detachably connected with a cup-or-bell-shaped carrier or supporting element 18 by means ofthe positioning pins 16 and the screws 17 or equivalent fastening expedients. A primary drive shaft 20 is rotatably mounted in any suitable fashion in a housing 19 of the rivet head arrangement of the equipment. At the lower end of primary drive shaft 20 there is seated a gear 21 meshing with gears 22 seated upon the intermediate shafts 23 also rotatably mounted within the housing 19 for rotation about the corresponding axis a. Shafts 23 rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. Each intermediate shaft 23 possesses an eccentric portion or section 230 having the eccentricity r and a further eccentric portion 2319 having the eccentricity R. The carrier 15 for the drive element is mounted at the eccentric portions 23b of the intermediate shafts 23, and the carrier 18 for the support element 11 is mounted at the eccentric portions 23a of such intermediate shafts 23. Mounting of the carriers and 18 at the eccentric portions 23!) and 230, respectively, is undertaken, for instance, with the aid of suitable needle bearings, as shown. By means of the only partially depicted bearing elements, it is also possible to ensure that these support or carrier elements l5 and 18 do not change their axial position and that the drive member 10 supports the tools 9 in axial direction against the reaction forces produced by the work force or pressure which the tools 9 should exert upon the hollow rivets during the working operation.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, once again the drive member or element 10 and the support element 1! are detachably connected to a drive member-carrier 24 and a multiple-part support element-carrier 25, 26. A drive shaft 29 which is rotatably, yet axially non-displaceably mounted in a housing 27, 28 possesses an eccentric portion or section 290 having the eccentricity r and an eccentric portion 29b having the eccentricity R. The drive member-support or carrier 24 is mounted rotatably, yet axially non-displaceable upon the eccentric portion 29b and the support element-carrier component 25 is mounted in the same fashion upon the eccentric portion 2911, so that also in this embodiment the support element II and the drive member or element 10 can carry-out the translatory circular movements described above in connection with FIG. 2.

If no special measures had been undertaken, in this arrangement, owing to the bearing friction at the portions 290 and 2% the elements 10 and II and their carriers or supporting elements could perform undesired rotations under certain circumstances. In order to counteract such, there are advantageously provided the bracing or retaining devices 30 and 3!. The retaining or support device 30 is arranged between the housing component 28 and the carrier component 26 for the support element ll, whereas the retaining device 31 is arranged between such carrier 26 and the carrier element 24 for the drive member 10. Each of these devices 30 and 31 is equipped with the members 32 and 33 which are guided at one another so as to be longitudinally displaceable, and addi tionally, are pivotably mounted by means of the axial pins 34, 35 at the previously mentioned components 24, 26 and 28, as shown clearly by referring to FIG. 5.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Accordingly what is claimed is:

l. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine comprising a plurality of identical wobble rivet tool members having parallel axes, each of said wobble rivet tool members possessing at opposite ends a head end portion and a worlcend portion, a drive member against which bears the head-end portions of said tool members, said drive member serving to transmit to said wobble rivet tool members a force directed towards their working-end portions, a drive mechanism cooperating with said drive member for imparting to said drive member a translatory circular movement such that all of said wobble rivet tool members carry out wobbling movements, the centers of which are located at their respective working end ponion, each of said wobble rivet tool members further incorporating an intermediate portion, and a support element against which bear said wobble rivet tool members by means of their intermediate portion at least when such tool members bear upon the ends of the rivets which are to be deformed.

2. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim I, further including a carrier element for said drive member and a carrier element for said support ele ment, and means providing a detachable connection of said drive member with its carrier element as well as a detachable connection of said support element with its carrier element to render possible exchange of such drive member and such sup port element for corresponding components to obtain a different arrangement of the wobble rivet tool members and the work-end portions thereof,

3. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim I, further including means provided at both said tool members and said support element for mounting in ball-and socket-like fashion said tool members with their respective intermediate portions at said support element, said drive mechanism also imparting a translatory circular movement to said support element which is synchronous to the movement of said drive member, and wherein the radius of the circulatory movement of the support element and the radius of the circulatory movement of the drive member are approximately in the same relationship to one another as the length of each tool member measured between its work-end portion and the center ofits supporting location at the support element and the total length of each such tool member.

4. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 3, further including a housing, said drive mechanism incorporating two intermediate shaft members rotatably mounted in said housing and disposed such that their lengthwise axes are substantially parallel to one another, a pri mary drive shaft cooperating with said intermediate shafts for rotating both intermediate shaft members in the same direction and at the same speed of revolution, each ofsnid in termediate shaft members possessing ponions which are eccentric by the amount of said circulatory movement radii and at which there are mounted said drive member and support element.

5. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 4, further including a first carrier element for mounting said drive member with one of said eccentric portions and a second carrier element for mounting said support element with the other of said eccentric portions.

6. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 3, further including a housing, said drive mechanism comprising a drive shaft mounted in said housing, said drive shaft possessing two portions which are eccentric by the amount of said circulatory movement radii, said drive member being mounted at one of said eccentric portions and said support element being mounted at the other of said eccentric portions, and bracing means between said housing and said support element as well as between said support element and said drive member for preventing rotation of said drive member and said support element upon their associated eccentric portions of said drive shaft.

7. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 6, further including a carrier element for mounting said support element at said associated eccentric portion of said drive shaft and a further carrier element for mounting said drive member at its associated eccentric portion of said drive shaft.

8. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said bracing means are arranged between said housing and said carrier element for said support element as well as between said last-mentioned carrier element and said carrier element for said drive member.

i t 1' I I UNITED STATES PATENT OIIFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 7 5, 461 Dated July 11, 1972 Inventor-( Claus Berndt It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 42, claim 1, before "bear" insert -do not-- Signed and sealed this 1st day of May 1973.

(scram attest:

REWARD II. FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Irttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO AID-69} USCOMM DC 50376 p59 a u s, eovznumzm Pmmms OFFICE was o-ass-saa 

1. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine comprising a plurality of identical wobble rivet tool members having parallel axes, each of said wobble rivet tool members possessing at opposite ends a head end portion and a work-end portion, a drive member against which bears the head-end portions of said tool members, said drive member serving to transmit to said wobble rivet tool members a force directed towards their working-end portions, a drive mechanism cooperating with said drive member for imparting to said drive member a translatory circular movement such that all of said wobble rivet tool members carry out wobbling movements, the centers of which are located at their respective working-end portion, each of said wobble rivet tool members further incorporating an intermediate portion, and a support element against which bear said wobble rivet tool members by means of their intermediate portion at least when such tool members beAr upon the ends of the rivets which are to be deformed.
 2. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 1, further including a carrier element for said drive member and a carrier element for said support element, and means providing a detachable connection of said drive member with its carrier element as well as a detachable connection of said support element with its carrier element to render possible exchange of such drive member and such support element for corresponding components to obtain a different arrangement of the wobble rivet tool members and the work-end portions thereof.
 3. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 1, further including means provided at both said tool members and said support element for mounting in ball-and socket-like fashion said tool members with their respective intermediate portions at said support element, said drive mechanism also imparting a translatory circular movement to said support element which is synchronous to the movement of said drive member, and wherein the radius of the circulatory movement of the support element and the radius of the circulatory movement of the drive member are approximately in the same relationship to one another as the length of each tool member measured between its work-end portion and the center of its supporting location at the support element and the total length of each such tool member.
 4. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 3, further including a housing, said drive mechanism incorporating two intermediate shaft members rotatably mounted in said housing and disposed such that their lengthwise axes are substantially parallel to one another, a primary drive shaft cooperating with said intermediate shafts for rotating both intermediate shaft members in the same direction and at the same speed of revolution, each of said intermediate shaft members possessing portions which are eccentric by the amount of said circulatory movement radii and at which there are mounted said drive member and support element.
 5. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 4, further including a first carrier element for mounting said drive member with one of said eccentric portions and a second carrier element for mounting said support element with the other of said eccentric portions.
 6. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 3, further including a housing, said drive mechanism comprising a drive shaft mounted in said housing, said drive shaft possessing two portions which are eccentric by the amount of said circulatory movement radii, said drive member being mounted at one of said eccentric portions and said support element being mounted at the other of said eccentric portions, and bracing means between said housing and said support element as well as between said support element and said drive member for preventing rotation of said drive member and said support element upon their associated eccentric portions of said drive shaft.
 7. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 6, further including a carrier element for mounting said support element at said associated eccentric portion of said drive shaft and a further carrier element for mounting said drive member at its associated eccentric portion of said drive shaft.
 8. A rivet head arrangement for a wobble riveting machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said bracing means are arranged between said housing and said carrier element for said support element as well as between said last-mentioned carrier element and said carrier element for said drive member. 